Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Sawdust Ring #7


Scan11069, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

To me one of the great mysteries of life is British currency.
However having just watched "Mary Poppins" with the grandkids, I'll go out on a limb and say that the admission to Kaye's Circus is Truppence!

Buckles

Posted by Buckles at 3/11/2009 06:04:00 AM

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Close! Actually it's thruppence.
Thus it's 2 for a tanner - ain't it , Sue?

11 March, 2009 06:39
Buckles said...

Regarding British slang, I remember the story of an English couple in the States seeking information on Niagara Falls.
The travel agent at first feigned ignorance then he replied, "Oh! You must mean Niffles!"

11 March, 2009 07:31
Anonymous said...

This shows an event that was just about gone at the time--a circus on a fairground making its opening to a crowd in competition with the other shows and rides appearing at the fair.
A.E. Middleton took lots of great photos of the British circus scene in the 1930s and I've often wondered where his material went. Perhaps some of our British circus friends might know.
Dick Flint
Baltimore

11 March, 2009 07:45
Anonymous said...

Very nice series today, always enjoy British circus history. I went to the Showfolks Club several years ago with Johnny Walker Jr. and offered a 20 pound note to pay for the drinks, knowing the club was under Rosaire management, they appreciated my loyalty to the Queen! Just two bob, to please the mob.
Erik Jaeger

11 March, 2009 18:33
Mike Naughton said...

I've been waiting for Sue Lenz to pop over with her wise words of wisdom regarding Old British currency.

Having spent many summers in Ireland as a kid, the "Irish" money followed the "English" money and confused the b'jesus out of me.

I found this wonderful site and I still don't understand it, but it was fun to read it.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/moneyold.htm


I am not a shilling closer to understanding the vernacular and I never had an uncle named Bob.

11 March, 2009 19:56
Anonymous said...

Mike.

But what was your aunt called???

Probably not a name that means something completely different over here!

12 March, 2009 07:50
Anonymous said...

I remember the "old money" very well as it was still the currency when I left England in 1968.

To give some idea what One pound was worth, I used to sell Ice-cream in the Interval at Robert Bros Circus in the mid to late 1950's and had to sell FORTY ice-creams at 6d each to total one pound and my commission was 6d in the pound!

And to Mike: Bob's your Uncle and Fannie is your Aunt!

Sue.

12 March, 2009 20:26
Mike Naughton said...

Sue,

That's only 2 1/2 per cent commission; a lot of work for a tanner!

12 March, 2009 21:47

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